Annalise Hare

20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health.

I’m taking on the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge — which means sitting in a 2×2 metre square, in silence, with no phone, no distractions, and no talking… for 20 hours. For the many of you that know me, you will probably laugh at how impossible it's going to be for me to shut up. But you may also know the many years I spent struggling with my own mental health, and how much this impacted my life, as well as all of those close to me. Suicide is still the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-44, yet only 2% of mental health funding goes towards prevention. So I’m stepping very far outside my comfort zone to support 20Talk, a charity focused on making mental health education relatable and accessible for young people, by young people. This challenge is one very close to my heart, and any donation will be much appreciated. These 20 difficult hours for me could make a world of difference for someone else.